GOP congressman says he's just fine with all of Trump's crimes

Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) told a national television audience that he isn’t bothered by the considerable evidence that Trump obstructed justice and broke the law.

Duffy, a former prosecutor, made the declaration during an interview Tuesday night on MSNBC’s “All In with Chris Hayes”.

During a contentious segment, Hayes repeatedly asked Duffy if he was even remotely concerned about Trump’s crimes as detailed in the Mueller report.

“Is there anything in the report of the conduct of the president that you just think is not cool, not good, not the sort of thing that you would advise or endorse?” Hayes asked.

Duffy refused to register disapproval of anything Trump has done. He instead loudly complained that the investigation had even been opened and whined about the calls for Trump’s impeachment for obstructing justice.

“There was no obstruction. Donald Trump gave them all kinds of information,” Duffy insisted, untruthfully characterizing the contents of the report.

The Mueller report was crystal clear on Trump’s obstruction: “These actions ranged from efforts to remove the Special Counsel and to reverse the effect of the Attorney General’s recusal; to the attempted use of official power to limit the scope of the investigation; to direct and indirect contacts with witnesses with the potential to influence their testimony.”

“Is there anything the president did, any conduct he took, any behavior that you say to yourself, look, I’m a former prosecutor, that’s not cool, that’s not a good thing, I wouldn’t want someone working for me to do that?” Hayes asked as the congressman continued to obfuscate and attack Democrats instead of Trump.

“The bottom line is Donald Trump complied,” Duffy insisted. Of course, the Mueller report shows repeated efforts by Trump to avoid compliance with the investigation, along with active efforts to stop and sabotage the investigation.

Hayes later pointed out the section of the Mueller report detailing Trump’s scheme to create false records to cover up his attempt to fire special counsel Robert Mueller, and again quizzed Duffy on whether the behavior gives him any pause.

“I think Donald Trump says a lot of things when he gets hot,” Duffy said, making an excuse for Trump’s unethical and unpresidential behavior.

The interview was a microcosm of the broad-based support Trump’s actions have received from congressional Republicans. Figures like Duffy — backed up by GOP leaders like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — have pushed for Trump to get a pass for his actions.

Meanwhile, Americans have expressed continual outrage and disapproval of Trump’s actions and support for impeachment has continued to grow. An increasing number of lawmakers have said it is time to begin a congressional impeachment inquiry.

But not Sean Duffy. He thinks its just fine if a Republican president obstructs justice and violates the rule of law.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.